Effects of pin biomechanics, coating material and surface roughness on the pin-bone interface in external repair

有些骨折需要外固定，用金属钉固定在骨碎片上。治疗通常是成功的，尽管针束经常松动和感染。这种并发症可能危及骨折愈合，必须进行治疗。这个项目的目的是确定在针骨界面上，针设计的哪些方面容易导致这些问题。是针最初插入的方式，可能不够紧，导致针不稳定，或者可能太紧，导致骨头微裂缝？是针的材料，可以用生物活性涂层改进吗？是表面粗糙度引起骨细胞的不同反应吗？用抗生素针会有帮助吗？本提案旨在回答这些问题。针的生物力学将首先通过计算机模型进行研究，然后在实验室进行测试。与不同类型的针相关的松动和感染将进行生物学研究。研究结果将阐明针生物力学、涂层和表面粗糙度的作用，从而改进针的设计，改善骨折患者的治疗效果。

Some fractures require external fixation, anchored with metal pins in the bone fragments. The reatment is generally successful, although the pin tracts often loosen and become infected. This complication may jeopardise fracture healing and must be treated. The purpose of this project is to determine what aspects of pin design predispose to these problems at the pin-bone interface. Is it the way the pins are initially inserted, perhaps not tightly enough so that the pin is unstable, or perhaps too tight, causing microcracks in the bone? Is it the material of the pin, which might be improved with a bioactive coating? Is it the surface roughness which causes different responses of bone cells? Would it help to have an antibiotic pin? This proposal is designed to answer these questions. The biomechanics of the pin will first be studied with computer models and then tested in the laboratory. The loosening and infection associated with different types of pin will then be studied biologically. The results of the study will clarify the roles of pin biomechanics, coating and surface roughness, leading to improvements in design and better outcomes in fracture patients.